Achimenes plant named Picotee Rose

ABSTRACT

A cultivar of Achimenes plant named Picotee Rose.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Achimenesplant, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Picotee Rose.

Picotee Rose is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new Achimenes cultivars having superior vigor,good branching habits, suitability for pot plants or hanging baskets,double flowers 2" or more in diameter and of various colors,early-flowering, floriferousness, and a long flowering season. Suchtraits in combination were not present or needed improvement inpreviously available commercial cultivars of this type.

Picotee Rose was originated from a hybridization made in a controlledbreeding program in Greenwood, S.C. in 1984. Both the male and femaleparent were identified by the breeding number 840942-2, with the femaleparent being selfed from the male parent.

Picotee Rose was discovered and selected as one flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated parentage by Linda Saussy Wiles on Aug. 21,1985, in a controlled greenhouse environment in Greenwood, S.C.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by rhizomes, as performedinitially by Linda Saussy Wiles at Greenwood, S.C. has demonstrated thatthe combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Picotee Roseare firmly fixed through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Picotee Rose has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Greenwood, S.C. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Picotee Rose, which in combinationdistinguish this Achimenes as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) The flowers are double in form and large, being 21/8" to 2 11/16"diameter. There are five (5) full size petals and 5 or more smallerpetals measuring 10/16"×10/16" or more when fully expanded.

(2) The upper surface flower color of the outer petals is an attractivewhite with a thin picotee or edge of light lavender to violet blue, withpetals showing Silver White on the reverse or underside. If doublepetals are pulled apart the throat shows Light Chartreuse Green HCC663/3, with some lines and dots of HCC 931/1×834/1 Dahlia Purple×RoyalPurple also being apparent.

(3) Generally, two (sometimes one) flowers appear at each node. Plantsare erect when young, and semi-trailing towards end of growing season.

(4) Rhizomes start growing early, producing plants rapidly. Fromrhizomes planted in early April, flowering plants were available by midJune.

(5) Plants continue to flower well into late November.

(6) Highly floriferous flowering habit.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Picotee Rose is Blue Rose, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 5,919. Reference is made to attached Chart A whichcompares certain characteristics of Picotee Rose to those samecharacteristics of Blue Rose.

Picotee Rose can also be compared to White Rose, a cultivar of applicantdisclosed in a pending application. Picotee Rose differs from White Roseby its larger flowers, lavender to blue picotee, and a slightly lessfloriferous habit. In addition, White Rose shows a pink tint near thecenter.

The accompanying color photographic drawings show typical inflorescenceand foliage characteristics of Picotee Rose, with the colors being asnearly true as possible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is aperspective view of the plant, and sheet 2 comprises a greatly enlargedphoto of a single flower and surrounding foliage.

In the following description, color references are made to theHorticultural Color Chart (HCC), or to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart (R.H.S.) where indicated. The color values were determinedbetween 3:00 pm. and 4:00 pm. on Sept. 23, 1986 under 2100 foot candlesof light intensity at Greenwood, S.C.

Classification:

A. Botanical.--Achimenes hybrid., cv. Picotee Rose.

B. Commercial.--Achimenes.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Erect when young; semi-trailing later.

Growth.--Bushy.

Internode.--Distance 1"-1.5" (2.5 cm to 3.8 cm).

B. Foliage:

Leaves.--Numerous.

Shape.--1/16"×11/2" to 13/8"×2". (2.7 cm by 3.8 cm to 3.5 cm by 5.1 cm).

Appearance.--Serrated.

Color.--Top side Parsley Green HCC 0962. Bottom side Pod Green-ParsleyGreen. HCC 061/3×0962/3.

Texture.--Pubescent on both upper and lower surfaces.

C. Flowers:

Borne: 2 flowers per node at most nodes.

Type of stems: Short.

Number of flowers per stem: One.

Quantity of blooms: Abundant.

D. Blooms:

Size.--21/8" to 2 11/16" (5.4 cm to 6.8 cm).

Petalage.--Double, five (5) full size outer petals, 5 or more smallerinner petals.

Shape.--Approximately round.

Color.--Outside petals, upper surface White with a thin picotee PastelLavender HCC 440 to Hyacinth Blue HCC 40/2 in color; under surfaceSilver White. Inner petals, upper surface White with a thin picoteePastel Lavender HCC 440 to Hyacinth Blue HCC 40/2; sometimes youngpetals with very light tint of Pastel Lavender HCC 440 to White. Ifinner petals are pulled apart then HCC 663/3 Chartreuse Green ispartially visible with Purple HCC 931/1×834/1 lines, and dots beingapparent.

E. Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--0-5, usually staminode.

Filaments.--0-5, usually attached to petals.

Anthers.--0.

Pollen.--None.

Pistils.--1, deformed.

Styles.--1, very reduced and deformed, or about 1/2 length of flowersflattened laterally.

Seed.--Will not normally produce seed.

Disease Resistance: No known disease problems on plants.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CHARACTER-                                                                    ISTIC       BLUE ROSE     PICOTEE ROSE                                        ______________________________________                                        Flower size 1.7"-2.0"     2.1"-2.7"                                           Smaller petals                                                                            4-6, 0.6" × 0.6"                                                                      5, 0.6" × 0.6"                                Leaf size   1.0" × 1.7"-2.5"                                                                      1.1" × 1.5" to                                                          1.4" × 2.0"                                   Leaf color  HCC 0962 Parsley                                                                            HCC 0962 Parsley                                                Green; HCC 061/3                                                                            Green; HCC 061/3 ×                                        Pod Green reverse                                                                           0962/3 Pod                                                                    Green-Parsley                                                                 Green reverse                                       Internode spacing                                                                         0.7"-1.2"     1.0"-1.5"                                           Flowers per node                                                                          2-3           usually 2                                                                     (sometimes 1)                                       Stamens     0-4           0-5, usually                                                                  staminode                                           Filaments   4, sometimes  0-5, usually                                                    attached to   attached to                                                     petals        petals                                              Anthers     variable, 0-4 0                                                   Pollen      some on occasion                                                                            none                                                Pistils     1             1, deformed                                         Styles      1, normal     1, very reduced and                                                           deformed, or about                                                            1/2 length of                                                                 flower and flattened                                                          laterally                                           Flower color                                                                              HHC 40/2 Hyacinth                                                                           White with thin                                                 Blue, with Silver                                                                           picotee of Light                                                White reverse; if                                                                           Lavender to                                                     petals retract,                                                                             Violet Blue, with                                               HCC 601/3 Primrose                                                                          Silver White reverse;                                           Yellow and HCC 28                                                                           HCC 663/3 Light                                                 Fuschia Purple lines                                                                        Chartreuse Green and                                            and dots are visible                                                                        HCC 931/1 × 834-1                                         in throat     Dahlia Purple ×                                                         Royal Purple                                        ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Achimenes plant named PicoteeRose, as illustrated and described.